Hotel Expansion

 Intercontinental Hotels plans to open a Presidente Intercontinental in Mexico City’s Santa Fe district and then another in Queretaro. Mexico’s Grupo Presidente holds the master franchise for the Inter-Continental brand in the country but Inter-Continental itself controls many brands, including Holiday Inn. Meanwhile, France’s Accor Hotel Group has announced plans to invest $80 million to build another dozen properties in Mexico, giving it a total of 25 by 2015. 

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Long, Long Weekend

Tuesday, May 1, is Labor Day in Mexico, as it is in much of the world. And since everybody gets Tuesday off, many people will not show up for work on Monday, either. Schools, for instance, are closed until next Wednesday. The long weekend is a boon for holiday destinations and this one should be the most profitable yet. 

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Extreme Adventure Flagstaff Style

High Above the Treetop.

Guide Jack Brittain nears the end of the course.

Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course reaches an elevation of 65 feet. The course just opened in mid April. 
The course, nestled in the ponderosa pines at Fort Tuthill Park, has 70 plus aerial challenges divided into four color-coded courses for children and adults. The price is $42 for adults; the half course is $35 and kids (7-11) $25. Discounts for students, seniors and military. 
The course took two months to build by Outplay Adventures out of New York. It takes about 2 and a half hours to run the course for the average adult, according to owner Paul Kent.
The four courses are Green, Blue, Red and Black. There is a space on the Blue course where you can see Flagstaff’s sacred San Francisco Peaks.
For more information and hours, etc., go to www.flagstaffextreme.com. — Stan Wawer

Questions Raised

The National Air Transport Chamber has expressed doubts regarding assertions by Tourism Minister Gloria Guevara that 205 domestic and international routes are not being served although demand for service has been demonstrated. As if to ease some doubts, Aeroméxico confirmed that on May 21 it will inaugurate its 16^th U.S. route, this one to Washington. And on June 3, Air Tran plans to operate a daily flight from California’s Orange County to Los Cabos and Mexico City. Spirit Airlines has announced that starting June 21 it will begin flying daily from DFW to Mexico City’s Toluca Airport. Currently it operates just two flights weekly on that route. 

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Fly Free Offer

 Spend four days vacationing at the Viceroy Riviera Maya (www.viceroyrivieramaya.com) and the resort will pick up your airfare. 

The all-villa Viceroy Riviera Maya’s “Fly Free” program offers reimbursement of air tickets for up to three guests, the maximum occupancy in one villa, when you stay at least four nights. The reimbursement per villa ranges from $800 to $3,500, depending on the season and the villa category you book.

“Travelers are looking for more value today and our Fly Free program is an irresistible incentive,” said General Manager Pedro Lara.

Fly Free is offered for stays now through Dec. 19. Guests buy their own airfare and then at check-in present their receipt. The resort will apply the ticket amount, up to the maximum allowance for their villa category, as a credit to the bill. The credit may be applied toward food and beverage and spa services, but not the gift shop, spa retail or outside activities.

The offer is subject to availability and blackout dates, and is not combinable with other promotions, offers or packages. It does not apply to group or corporate contracts.  For more information and reservations, contact Viceroy Riviera Maya at (866) 332-1672 or reservations@viceroyrivieramaya.com.

Viceroy Riviera Maya’s sister property in Mexico, Viceroy Zihuatanejo (www.viceroyzihuatanejo.com), is also offering a Fly Free program. For more information and reservations, contact Viceroy Zihuatanejo at (866) 905-9560 orvz.info@viceroyhotelsandresorts.com.

The Viceroy Riviera Maya is a serene hideaway of sugary-white sands lapped by the warm Caribbean and a jungle ambiance of ferns, palms and guava trees. The resort merges every luxury amenity with dramatic sea and jungle, bringing together the best of the destination. All 41 villas feature a private patio and plunge pool, outdoor shower, and a high-ceiling, thatched-palapa roof that resonates with the jungle environment. Guests enjoy fine dining on the sea-view loft of La Marea, Mexican-Mediterranean fare at beachside Coral Grill, and state-of-the-art workout equipment in the fitness center. The resort has its own pier where guests can sunbathe, enjoy massages, savor romantic dinners and may be conveniently picked up by boat for snorkeling, diving and other excursions. The 6-acre resort is on the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula 40 miles south of Cancun International Airport, and three miles north of popular Playa del Carmen, known for its beach scene, restaurants, boutiques and nightlife. 

Hyatt Buys Nikko

Hyatt reportedly has purchased the Japanese-owned Hotel Nikko in Mexico City’s Polanco neighborhood. Price is said to have been $230 million, which comes to $300,000 per room. At the moment, this is all rumor, yet to be confirmed. Nikko is known to have been hard hit by economic problems in Japan. Hyatt, once a major player in Mexico, is said to be interested in getting back into the game again.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Cancun Anniversary

It was 42 years ago that the gnomes at the central bank won approval to develop Cancun on a remote sandbar off the Caribbean shore of what was then the remote federal territory of Quintana Roo. The gnomes had noticed all the dollars tourists were bringing into the country and decided that what Mexico needed was more Acapulcos. Cancun grew into the biggest resort destination in the entire Caribbean and inspired half-a-dozen similar projects in Mexico. Quintana Roo became a state as did Baja California Sur, today two of the wealthiest entities in the Republic. Cancun was the first — and most successful — project of what became Fonatur. Others were Los Cabos, Ixtapa, Huatulco and Loreto, of which only Los Cabos has been an outstanding success.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Posadas bets on cheap hotels

Posadas de México, the country’s largest hotel group, plans to open 53 new properties during the next two years. Almost all will be franchised “One” brand inns owned by individual investors. Until now the company has been better known for its Fiesta Americana (five-star) and Fiesta Inn (four-star) brands. “One” hotels are considered three-star properties. Anything rating less than three stars generally is not considered fit for fussy travelers.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Good Statistics

According to the country’s central bank, 1.9 million travelers from abroad arrived in Mexico during the first two months of the year, an increase of about 3 percent over 2011. Figures published by the Tourism Ministry indicate that the number was even higher, noting that the travelers added $2.2 billion to the economy, spending 4.8 percent more than they did last year.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Puerto Vallarta Again

Now that the crowds from the Tianguis Turístico trade show have gone home, a record 700 delegates from 71 countries have arrived for a World Economic Forum. While it is not exactly a tourism-related event, the forum will put Puerto Vallarta´s name back in datelines and such publicity is always welcome.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Politicians Focus on Tourism

Tourism should play an important part in regional development, according to Josefina Vázquez Mota, presidential candidate for the National Action Party, which has held the presidency since 2000. Meanwhile, Miguel Torruco Marqués, who may become tourism minister should Andres Manuel López Obrador (Party of the Democratic Revolution) be elected, urged border states to promote two-nation vacations. Torruco noted that one-day border-crossing visits have declined from 85 million in 2002 to 56 million last year. What he failed to mention is that U.S. citizens now must hold passports if they want to travel abroad. Only a minority of Americans have passports. Front-runner Enrique Peña-Nieto (Party of the Institutionalized Revolution) is promising to revitalize Acapulco, hurt by its reputation for violence and gunfights.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Aeroméxico looks south

Aeroméxico is increasing service to Guatemala and said to be eyeing further expansion in Central and South America. LAN, Copa and TACA have a firm grip on this market, but Aeroméxico has the advantage of numerous routes to several cities in the United States as well as flights to Europe and Asia, the latter attractive to passengers lacking U.S. visas.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Bright Burning Candle

The Grand Velas on the Riviera Nayarit and its cousin on the Riviera Maya have been listed by Forbes as among the “10 coolest” all-inclusive resorts anywhere. Both are among the properties owned by Eduardo Velas and both already are among the seven hotels in Mexico rating five AAA diamonds.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Debts, No Taxes

Eight of the leading seaside resort destinations in Mexico are in debt to the tune of 3.7 billion pesos, starting with Cancun, which owes 1.4 billion. Even when converted into dollars, this is a large amount of money, so much that Moody’s and Fitch Ratings advice lenders against lending any more. The borrowed funds apparently were invested in needed infrastructure, but municipal tax collection systems are considered inadequate, making repayment iffy. Meanwhile, tourism to these destinations is setting new records.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Medical tourism declines

Only 1 percent of the Americans traveling abroad for health care come to Mexico, according to the International Chamber of Health Tourism. Costs in Mexico are a third or more less than they would be in the United States, transportation costs are lower and there are other advantages. These, however, amount to nothing when compared to the feeling of insecurity resulting from gang wars in Mexico.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Thefts, dog breeds and Visas

Here is the latest news from Global Traveler (www.globaltravelerusa.com). JFK Reports 200 Thefts A Day

New York’s local news station CBS2 reports 200 thefts each day from checked baggage at John F. Kennedy International Airport. According to the report, baggage handlers, tarmac workers and even security officers are among the alleged thieves. There are no security cameras in the belly of the plane to monitor these workers. Investigators claim the thieves engage in luggage profiling, looking for expensive luggage and targeting bags based on the passenger’s destination. No arrests have been made.

United Bans Certain Dog Breeds

Following the merger of the two airlines, United Airlines has adopted Continental Airlines’ longstanding PetSafe policy, banning certain dog breeds on aircrafts. Nine breeds, or mixes, are listed as dangerous: Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Presa Canario, Perro de Presa Canario, Dogo Argentino, Cane Corso, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa (or Tosa Ken) and Ca de Bou. Before the Continental merger, United had no breed restrictions. PetSafe employees are stationed at all airport hubs to ensure customized and safe animal transportation.

Philippines Extend Visas

In an effort to boost tourism, the Philippines is extending its free visa policy. Tourists from 166 countries can now stay in the country for 30 days and retirees can stay for six months. The new visa program is the first of several measures implemented to lure tourists. The Philippines will remove the Common Carriers Tax and the Customs and Immigration Quarantine, which affect cargo and inspections, respectively, to further ease travel.

Double-Deckers for Mazatlan

Mazatlan recently introduced a fleet of five double-decked, open-top “Fun Buses” that seat from 52 to 78 passengers. The brightly painted buses pick up individual riders on morning and afternoon runs and also can be chartered by convention and meeting groups. Until now, Mazatlan has been noted for its distinctive, open-sided taxis known as pulmonias. Double-decked tour buses are a standard feature in many Mexican cities.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Baja Turnpike

Baja California Sur is completing work on a throughway that will link Los Cabos with La Paz, capital of the state. The 120-mile-long improvement is badly needed. The original Baja highway from Tijuana to Los Cabos was completed in the early 1970s but in stretches is in poor condition. The improved freeway will cut driving time in half and should help reduce accidents.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Foreign Travel Declines

The number of foreigners arriving by air in Acapulco last year declined by 46 percent. It was down 12 percent in Zihuatanejo (Ixtapa) and 10 percent in Mazatlan. These figures were gathered by Francisco Madrid, a former undersecretary of tourism who now directs the School of Tourism at Anahuac University. He made his announcement shortly after President Felipe Calderon predicted that Mexico soon will rank fifth among the most visited countries in the world.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers